Inlet Canal above Belle Fourche Reservoir water level
River gauge, Inlet Canal, South Dakota, United States
Right now
Normal for late October
Water level
- Flow
- 143 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The Inlet Canal above Belle Fourche Reservoir is at 4.92 ft, in the normal range for late October.
That puts it 0.05 ft below the median of 4.97 ft for late October, based on 9 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 5.26 ft (−0.34 ft).
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 4.77 ft and 4.94 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 9 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 4.97 ft0.05 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 3.98 ft – 5.44 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (9 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 5.26 ft−0.34 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 4.77 ft – 4.94 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 3.81 ft – 6.07 ft
Floating and fishing near Inlet Canal above Belle Fourche Reservoir
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belle Fourche River near FruitdaleRiver gauge, Belle Fourche River | 1.56 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 0.7 mi |
| Belle Fourche ReservoirReservoir | 2,956.96 ft | Normal | 3.8 mi | |
| Redwater River above Belle FourcheRiver gauge, Redwater River | 3.11 ft | Below flood stage | +0.02 ft | 5.7 mi |
| Whitewood Creek near WhitewoodRiver gauge, Whitewood Creek | 5.46 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 14 mi |
| Whitewood Creek above ValeRiver gauge, Whitewood Creek | 0.0 cfs | Very low | ±0 | 14 mi |
| Belle Fourche River at Wy-Sd State LineRiver gauge, Belle Fourche River | 3.43 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 16 mi |
| Spearfish Creek at SpearfishRiver gauge, Spearfish Creek | 4.81 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 16 mi |
| Murray Ditch above Headgate at Wy-Sd State LineRiver gauge, Murray Ditch | 0.0 cfs | Low | ±0 | 18 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Inlet Canal above Belle Fourche Reservoir compare with last year?
It is 0.34 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 5.26 ft.
What is a normal level for the Inlet Canal above Belle Fourche Reservoir in late October?
The median for late October is 4.97 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 3.98 ft and 5.44 ft, based on 9 years of records.
Is gage height the same as water depth?
No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.
What is the water level of Inlet Canal above Belle Fourche Reservoir today?
On Oct 21, 2026, 03:45 AM MDT, the water level was 4.92 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Inlet Canal above Belle Fourche Reservoir rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Inlet Canal above Belle Fourche Reservoir normal?
Normal for late October. Compared with 9 years of daily readings for this time of year.
How often is this data updated?
The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:06434505(Agency page)- Coordinates
44.70094, -103.73231(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NAVD88
- Update interval
- every 15 minutes
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 4.92 ft | 2026-10-21 09:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 143 cfs | 2026-10-21 09:45 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Inlet Canal above Belle Fourche Reservoir (usgs:06434505). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/inlet-canal-above-belle-fourche-reservoir
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer